By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Topeka West girls defeated Piper 62-50 on Senior Night Tuesday, ending a three-game losing skid and perhaps gaining some momentum with just one game remaining before sub-state.
Topeka West senior Zoe Clark scored a game-high 17 points in Tuesday's home 62-50 UKC win over Piper. [File photo/TSN]
Topeka West senior Rebecca Bearman scored 14 points in the Chargers' UKC win over Piper Tuesday night. [File poto/TSN]
The Chargers had three players score in double figures while their defense frustrated Piper into 19 of 63 shooting from the field.
“They finally put four quarters together,” said Topeka West coach Angie Ketterman. “Our defense was amazing. We were getting points from everybody on the floor whereas before we were just getting it from a few kids. But the big thing tonight was our defense. Our defense has improved so much this season.”
Seniors Zoe Clark and Rebecca Bearman led the way for the Chargers.
Clark led all scorers with 17 points while Bearman dominated on the glass and added 14 points.
“We’ve been trying all year to get Rebecca to believe in herself around that basket and use that backboard. And tonight, she was doing that,” Ketterman said. “To get her scoring around the basket is huge for us.”
“It was big getting this win. Piper is a good team,” Bearman said. “We didn’t beat them the last time, so it felt great to get away with the win this time. We worked really hard for it so we’re excited.”
After claiming a 19-18 lead in the first period, the Chargers created a little breathing room in the second period by outscoring the Pirates 14-8.
Topeka West maintained a comfortable margin most of the way, although Piper closed to within four points midway through the fourth quarter. But the Chargers responded with a 10-2 run to end the threat.
Clark and Bearman were joined in double figures by Teairra Gonzales, who scored 13. Imani McGlory added nine for the Chargers.
Topeka West improved to 7-12 on the season with only a trip to Leavenworth remaining on the regular season schedule. Another win like Tuesday’s would help their seeding at substate.
“With this win and if we can get a win on Friday, that will move us up just a little in the standings,” Ketterman said. “That could move us up into the middle of the pack so that we could hopefully get a better (matchup in the first round). This makes our game at Leavenworth on Friday huge.”
“We just want to go into (the playoffs) and compete and do our best,” Bearman said.
TOPEKA WEST GIRLS 62, PIPER 50
Piper 18 8 15 9 -- 50
Topeka West 19 14 17 12 -- 62
Piper (9-10, 6-9) – Vallejo 4-9 2-2 12, Roth 3-14 1-5 7, Lockwood 3-5 1-2 7, Gerber 1-7 0-0 2, Grann 4-10 1-2 9, Ochs 2-4 0-0 5, Marron 2-14 3-3 8. Totals: 19-63 8-14 50.
Topeka West (7-12, 6-9) – K. Keeling 0-0 0-0 0, I. McGlory 2-8 5-6 9, Webb 0-0 0-0 0, Clark 7-15 2-7 17, Bearman 6-14 2-3 14, Hall 3-6 0-3 6, Gonzales 6-10 0-1 13, B. Keeling 0-4 0-0 0, A. McGlory 1-1 0-0 3. Totals: 25-58 9-20 62.
3-point goals – Piper 4 (Vallejo 2, Ochs 1, Marron 1), Topeka West 3 (Clark 1, Gonzales 1, McGlory 1). Total fouls – Piper 17, Topeka West 18. Fouled out – Marron. Technical fouls – None.
